Ama Jetsun Pema, younger sister of the Dalai Lama, was honored with the Light of Education (Tibetan:Sherig Donmay) award by the Tibetan schools in Switzerland & Liechtenstein on Sept. 15, 2013 at the Uzwil Gemeindesaal Hall, Switzerland.
The award was presented by Gangshongtsang Lobsang, president of the Tibetan community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and Dotchung Gonpo Namgyal, head of the Tibetan schools in the area.
Jetsun Pema started working in 1960 to establish a Tibetan Nursery (Bhusokhang) under the direction of the Dalai Lama to take care of 51 malnourished Tibetan refugee children from the road construction camps in Jammu, India.
The institution, which initially started with 51 children has now grown into one of the most successful Tibetan educational institutions in exile with over 16,826 children under its care and school branches extending from Ladakh, north India to Byalkupee in south of India.
“I accept this honor on behalf of all the co-workers of Tibetan Children’s Village,” said Jetsun Pema.